Traverse City Record-Eagle

Skiing

February 23, 2009

Manistee girls edge Petoskey in Div. 2

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARQUETTE -- Ten years ago, Manistee won its first girls state ski trophy, finishing second in Class B-C-D.

On Monday, the Chippewas topped that, capturing the Division 2 girls title at Marquette Mountain.

Manistee, which entered the finals ranked No. 1, edged perennial power Petoskey 59-66.5 to claim the championship.

"It's huge," Manistee coach Dick Totch said. "It's hard to even describe. I don't know if it's even sunk in yet."

Petoskey's Tori McVicker won the slalom (1:24.70) and giant slalom (1:02:05), but Manistee's depth made the difference.

In the giant slalom, freshman Nathalie Kenny placed second (1:02.53), senior Katie Bramble fourth (1:02.82), junior Kari Paine fifth (1:03.05) and freshman Andrea Paine 16th (1:05.42). In the slalom, Bramble was third (1:27.02), Kari Paine fifth (1:28.42), Kenny ninth (1:29.22) and Andrea Paine 15th.

"When you're consistent like that it's hard to lose," Totch said.

Totch said his team responded to the pressure.

"The other day you could see it in their eyes," he said. "It wasn't really a fear, but it was like a big anticipation. At the time, I didn't know how to take it, if they were going to pull it off or choke. But they all had a grin on their face this morning. They were chomping at the bit to get going. They were ready. They were as prepared as any team I've had."

And what's "sweet," Totch said, is that all but Bramble return next season.

The Chippewas should have Bramble's younger sister, McKenna, back next winter. She tore her ACL in the Cadillac Invitational earlier this winter.

"She's already had surgery," he said. "It went well. She's actually ahead of schedule."

Harrison beat Manistee 97.5-114 to take the boys title. It was a rematch of the regional, won by the Chippewas.

"We had an outstanding day at the regional and we thought that it might happen again," Totch said.

"It was a close race, back and forth all day. We couldn't figure out who was going to pull it out."

Manistee's Keegan Janowiak won the giant slalom (59.98). Michael Bobian was fourth. Janowiak took third in the slalom.

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